BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 4, 2007

 

The Board advised of their attendance at a public informational meeting regarding the Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide Winter Plan at Rock Creek Center at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007.

 

The Board met at 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present for a staff meeting to discuss various projects and scheduling, and to give updates on attendance at various meetings, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of November 27, 2007.

2.      Notice of completion of contract with Hansen Drilling Company, Inc for de-watering test wells.

3.      Submittal of Skamania County Greater Wind River Community Wildfire Protection Plan to Dept of Natural Resources.

4.      Certification of 2008 Property Tax Levies for City of Stevenson, Hospital District, Emergency Medical Services, Port District, and Fire District #2.

5.      Resolution 2007-53 adopting Skamania County 2007 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. and Letter of Promulgation.

6.      Resolution 2007-55 creating Wind River Business Park Petty Cash Fund.

7.      Authorize open purchase order accounts with the 14 Wind River Business Park (WRBP) vendors; authorize Charles Alex Johnson, Skamania County Economic Development Council employee, to drive the County vehicle assigned to WRBP for business only; require all HUD grant funds received to be transferred to the County until grant closeout is completed; authorize transfer of all remaining funds in Wind River Public Development Fund to WRBP Fund; and authorize Treasurer to transfer $2,500 from WRBP Fund to WRBP Petty Cash Fund.

8.      Agreement with Jo Bee Company for upgrades for FTR Gold audio recorder software, maintenance, installation, and training for the latest version, and a hardware upgrade to support newly installed microphones.

9.      Contract with ProtoCall to provide crisis call screening when the Counseling Center Office is closed.

10.    Memorandum of agreement with Evergreen Forest County Group to serve as Washington, DC government relations advisor to Skamania County.

11.    Contract amendment #1 with Nickolyn Myers to extend the term to November 1, 2007 and increase the amount by $200.00 to serve as a volunteer host for Big Cedars Campground.

12.    Agreement with Washington State Patrol to assist Public Works Building Division with fire safety review and inspections.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a voucher to Freedom Steel for deposit for drawings/plans for a steel building for Search and Rescue in the total amount of $11,764.00.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide, private road standards, winter maintenance procedures, Engineering projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Building Department and Solid Waste.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on upcoming meetings for the Columbia River Gorge Commission and Water Resource Inventory Area 29a, Black Bear Permit Tracking System, Friday permit meetings, and advised of the next working meeting regarding the proposed Carson Stormwater District.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2007 and reconvened at 10:55 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

David Purcell addressed the Board with a request to vacate a portion of Skamania Mines Road.

 

Ole Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent gave updates on administration, WSU Horizons Project, 4-H program, forestry, gardening and pest management, Title III programs, the GIS Committee, and biofuels.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting at approximately 11:10 a.m. via phone from Washington, DC and gave an update on the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act Reauthorization.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2007 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Services Application for 2008.  The grant would provide $108,434 in CDBG funds for essential services for low- and moderate-income persons in Skamania and Klickitat Counties.  Linda Schneider, Executive Director and Jan Pearo, Staff for Washington Gorge Action Programs advised of services that would be provided with funding from the grant, which included Job Training, Services for Homeless, and Nutrition/Farmers to Food Banks.  Information regarding the availability of CDBG funds, eligible uses, and income guidelines was available and distributed to interested parties in attendance.  No comments were received from the public. Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve Resolution 2007-48, authorizing submission of the 2008 CDBG Public Services Grant Application and Certifications of Compliance to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.

 

Sharon Vance, County Clerk requested authorization to purchase an advanced PDF module and support, at a cost of $1,200, to be included in the purchase of scanning base software from Eagle Information Systems.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to authorize the purchase as requested.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2007 and reconvened at 2:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was present via phone.

 

The Board met with Sheriff Dave Brown, Emergency Management Director, Larry Douglass, Public Works Director, and various Department Heads for an update on Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide and potential flooding issues.  Sheriff Brown advised of ongoing monitoring and further advised that Emergency Management was not issuing an evacuation at this time.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2007 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was present via phone.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to authorize the Prosecutor to file an unlawful detainer for eviction of a tenant at Wind River Business Park.

 

The Board met with Sheriff Dave Brown, Emergency Management Director, Larry Douglass, Public Works Director, and representatives from Skamania County Public Health to discuss evacuation procedures in reference to the Health Department/Counseling Center Building, the need for a press release to correct misinformation given to news reporters, and for an update on Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide and potential flooding issues.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:48 a.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2007 and reconvened at 10:20 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board continued their discussion with Public Health representatives, requesting that Public Health remain in its current location and maintain current services.

 

Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting at approximately 10:40 a.m. via phone from Washington, DC and gave an update on the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act Reauthorization.  Commissioner Pearce left the meeting at approximately 10:45 a.m.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss a proposed clearing and grading ordinance and a long range project list, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss facility considerations for continuity of government should Rock Creek overflow inundate County facilities, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2007 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Director of Administrative Services to discuss Wind River Business Park water rights, vehicle use policy, Health Department logistics, and meeting scheduling for the Regional Services Network, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5, 2007 and reconvened at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, December 6, 2007, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending December 6, 2007 in the total amount of $134,516.79.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending November 30, 2007 in the total amount of $1,096,864.15.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, December 6, 2007 and reconvened at 10:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director gave an update on the Piper Road/Rock Creek Slide and a meeting with the Corps of Engineers.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m. Thursday, December 6, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON